Explosive-gas engine.



PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906.

E. G. SHORTT.

BXPLOSIVE GAS ENGINE.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT.24, 1902.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR Q gflmac M 4 PATENTED FEB. 13

E. G. SHORTT. EXPLOSIVE GAS ENGINE.

@APPLIUATION FILED SEPT.24, 1902.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

PATENT-ED FEB. 13, 1906.

E G SHORTT. BXPLOSIVE GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION IILIBD SEPT.24, 1902.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES: 1 INVENTOR TORNEY No. 812,304. PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906.

B; G. SHORTT.

EXPLOSIVE GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.24, 1902.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIQ ORNEY PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906.

E. G. SHORTT.

BXPLOSIVE GAS ENGINE.

v APPLIOATION FILED $32124, 1902.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5- IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIQ w INVENTOR ATTEETIEY WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patenti Patented Feb. 13, 1906.

, Application filed September 24, 1902 Serial No. 124,702.

To all it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD G. SHoRTT, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Car' thage, in the county of Jefferson and State of N ew- York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosive-Gas .En-

ines; and I do declare the following to be a I, clear, and exact description of the invention, such-as will enable others skilled in the bustion-chamber, at which time the pressure is variable, being greater upon the fuel than upon the air-supply.

The invention consists, further, in the pro vision of meanswhereby the amount of fuel bein fed to the engine may be automaticall regu ated by the quantity of air which is a lowed to enter a secondary cylinder and break a vacuum, in which a piston works, having a stem which is connected to a valve controlling the admission of fuel and air to the combustion-chamber.

In the present invention a combustionchamber is provided having valve-regulated communication with a fuel-supply reservoir and with an initial air-com ression chamber, whereby at a redetermine moment a forced suppl of inc and air thoroughly atomized may fed into the combustionchamber, the residue of the products of combustion be ing compressed into a receivin -chamber by the impact of the inflow of a creed charge under the initial compression, means being provided for preventing the escape of any of the charge and for maintainin a pressure in the initial suppl -chamber an the constant pressure upon t efuel-supply.

Another feature of the present invention consists in the-utilization of a single stem,

carryingat one end a valve controlling the ingress of fuel and air and at its other end a plunger working in a suitable cylinder adapt- 7 ed t'o be acted upon by pneumatic ressure to actuate. the stem, wherebythe va ve may be opened and seated at predetermined moments and controlled by the quantity of air which is allowed to enter the secondary cylinline 4 4 of Fig.2.

der in order to break the vacuum formed therein.

The invention relates, further,'to various features and details of construction, which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claims and'illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this application, and in which drawings similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the various views, in which- Figure 1 isafront elevation of myimproved engine. Fig.2 is a central vertical section through the engine. Fig. 3 is a view vertically and centrally through the engine in a lane at right an les tojthe plane on which ig. 2 is made. ig. 4 is a sectional view on ig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. f l

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by-letter,A designates the combustion-chamber of'the engine, having a suitable water-jacket A about the same, and secured in a threaded aperture at the upper end of said combustion-chamber is a plug a, provided with a sparking apparatus of any approved type.

-B designates a cylindrical piston which works with suitable packing inside the coinbustion-chamber. I The lower endof'said piston is of larger diameter than its upper end. iston-head B, which works 'Within the ho low shell 0 and -fits-snu and forms a agalnst the inner wall thereof, said shell (l extending down into the air-co ression chamber 0 Mounted on a pivota, pin D, which is journaled-in an aperture passing through the solid portion of the cylindrica piston, is a pitman E, and saidjpin is chambered out, as shown at d, for the reception of' a lubricant. The lower end of said pitman is pivotally connected to a crank F, forming .part of a shaft F, which is j ournaled in suitably-packed bearings in the casing G: Said casln forms a Wall for the air+ compression cham er C and on which casing the superstructure 0 the engine is mounted and seacurely fastened thereto. Air is drawn into said air-compression chamber by the formation of a partial vacuum therein on the re- 'tu rn stroke ofthe piston, the air entering through the ports H, whichare regulated b means of pivoted valves H. The air, whic has been previously drawn into the compression-chamber on the return stroke of the pis- I Lea ing from said annular space K is a port charge is being fed thereto.

L to the atmosphere.

ton, is compressed slightly on the working stroke of the piston for the purpose of creating sufiicient pressure of air to maintain a uniform-pressure upon the fuel and also to passes through said chamber.

' Leading from the combustion-chamber at locations slightly above the to oi the piston B when at its lower limit are ormed ports I,

thatlead into an annular space K of a nieas- Y ur'ed capacity surrounding the lower portion of the combustion chamber, said annular s ace K being of sufficient capacity to receive t e residue of the products of combustion after the inner end of the piston B opens communication, between the combustionchamber and the said annular space, through the orts on the outer throw ofthe' piston.

K ,through which theresidue'of the products of combustion pass into and throu h the cylinder L and thence through the ex aust-port Mounted within the cylinder L is a piston N, which is'fastened to t e piston-stem N, which stem is adaptedto have a reci rocating movement throu h the threaded p ug M, which has threade connection with threads on the inner wall of the cylinder L and also passing through a head M, fitted into the lower portion of the airreceiving chamber 0. The inner end of said piston N fits snu ly the inner wall of the cylinder L and is ac apted to open and close the ort K, which leads from the annular space to the interior of the cylinder L, whereby as said piston N reci rocates at a predetermined moment the resi us of the products of combustion may exhaust to the atmosphere and communication with the atmosphere shut ofi at the proper time to revent an to the combustion cliamber w 1s a new One end of said pqis'ton N is enlarged, formin a piston-head which is adapted to fit wit 'n the enlarged ortion N formed in the wall of the cylinder and immediately below the same, forming a pneumatic secondary cylinder. A duct N t leads from the vacuum-space C at a location a suitable distance above the lower end of the shell about said space through thewall of the secondary cylinder, and through which duct air is exhausted from the latter as the piston B a proaches the limit of its outer throw and at t e moment that the inner end of the piston-head B passes by the entrance into said duct. As the air is exhausted from the secondary cylinder the ressure of the atmosphere upon the outer ace of the enlar ed portion N of the piston-head will force t e same upward, and with it the stem N, which will cause the valve P to rise from its beveled seat P, allowing air to pass into the mixing-cham ber Q in a manner which will be presently described. As the piston N is driven in by atmospheric pressure the port K will be closed, thus shutting off communication between the combustion-chamber and the atmosphere.

The lower end of the piston-stem N passes through a yoke N on the casing of the engine, and a s ring N is interposed between said yoke an a nut N carried on the end of said stem, while an adjustin -nut nis mounted on the threaded portion of t e stem and bears a ainst the outer surface of the enlarged head I? of the piston. This spring is provided for the purpose of assisting in closing the valves after the same have been opened" by pneumatic pressure.

Opening into the space forming the interior of the secondary c linder is a port R, and

R represents a screw aving a threaded con nection with the threaded wall of a screwaperture in the projectin portion of the easing of the cylinder L an -is provided with a tapering end R which is adapted to be seated against a tapering wall in the port R, whereby the passage of air through said port It may be regulated. A jam-nut Rf is mounted upon the threaded portion of said screw, whereby the screw may be held securely in an adjusted position. Said-screw mounted as described forms an'essential feature of the invention,for the reason that the" quantity of air which it is desired to allow to pass throughthe port R may be regulated, which air is allowed to. enter to break the vacuum formed in the secondary cylinder, and accordin ly as more or less air is allowed to enter the latter through said port the action of the valve which allows a greater or less uantity of fuel tobe fed to the cylinder may eregulated.

Leading preferably from the upper portion of the air-compression chamber is a duct S, through which air under pressure is fedfrom the air-compressi0n chamber into the airreceiving chamber 0 preparatory toits being mixed with the fuel which enters throu h a port T, o eningthrough the'inclined we 1 of the seat The exhaust endof-the duct S, through which air under pressure passes from the air-compression chamber into the cham supply.

The fuel, which may be contained within a tank A at any suitable location, has communication with the air-compression chamber, whereby a constant and uniform pressure is maintained upon the fuel equal to the airpressure within the air-compression chamber. The supply of fuel from the reservoir is adapted to enter through the port E, and a thumb screw W, havin a tapering end, is adapted to have a seat W formed in the wall of the port P, whereby the quantity of fuel which it is desired to feed to the mixing-chamber may be regulated.

Water which is provided for'the purpose of circulation in the water-jacket enters the spaces V' and is adapted to circulate around the combustion-chamber for the purpose of preventing the parts from becoming superheated.

Leading from the upper portion of the vacuum-space C is a port J, the outlet end of which is controlled by means of a check-valve J, which is held in place by means of a spring J interposed between said valve and a threaded plug J which latter is fitted to the threaded walls of a chamber J. This port and check-valve are provided for the purpose of allowing air which is drawn into the vacuumspace to make exit on the inner throw of the cylinder, said air after being forced through the port J and the chamber J passing out through a port J into the chamber K, into which the residue of the products of combustion pass from the combustion-chamber and afterward to the atmosphere.

Upon reference to the sectional view of the drawings it will be observed that the aircompression chamber is substantially square in cross-section, which will allow considerable space about the lower end of the shell in which the piston reciprocates, thus allowing for ample space for the reception of the compressed air, and the apparatus is so regulated that the use of escape-valves to reduce the pressure of the air in the alr-compression' chamber isdispensed with, and the capacityof said chamber may be regulated, as hereinbefore stated, by theus ,p f oil, which may be poured into the lower portioii thereof.-

The operation of my invention is sim 1e and will be readily understood and is as ollows: A charge of atomized gaso'lene-being forced into the combustion-chamber and"ignited, the piston therein is driven outward, and when the inner end of piston B opens comn'iunication with the ports I, leading from the lower portion of the combustionchamber into the exhaust-space K, the residue of the products of combustion will pass through said ports and into the chamber K and to the atmosphere through the ports K and L, the piston N being at this moment in such a position as to open communication between the .combustion-chamber and the atend of the duct N air will rush from the secondary cylinder in which the piston N is mounted, exhausting the air therein, said air rushing into the vacuum-space O, and the atmospheric pressure upon the face of the piston N 2 will cause the latter to be forced in, and the stem N will raise the valve P from its seat, and air under pressure coming from the port S and fuel under pressure are forced through the feeding-aperture T against the inclined or beveled-edge of the valve P, at which location it comes in contact with the supply of air under pressure, which pressure on the supply of air, however, should be slightly less than the pressure upon the fuel which is being fed into the mixing-chamber. As the fuel and air come in contact under pressure, the charge is thoroughly atomized in the mixing-chamber before entering the combustion-chamber. that the partial vacuum formed in the secondary cylinder in which the piston N ispositioned is broken-by means of the adjustment of the valve R, which allows a greater or less quantity of air to rush through the inlet-duct R to fill the vacuumspace in the secondary cylinder accordingly ascit is desired to allow a greater or less quantity of fuel and air to be fed into the combustion-chamber. Simultaneously with the exhausting of the air in the secondary cylinder by the working piston closing communication between the vacuum-space and said secondarycylinder communication between the. exhaust-chamber K and the atmosphere is" closed by the piston N, at which moment the enlarged end of the piston B will have passed beyond the opening into the duct N, leading from the vacuum-space O, and air on the upper surface of the enlarged portion of the piston N will be exhausted into said vacuum-space, and the atmospheric pressure upon the outer face of saidpiston N overcoming the pressure upon It will be observed its inner face will cause the valve actuated by said piston to unseat to allow fuel and air.

to enter the combining-chamber. While said valve is unseated a small quantity of air is allowed to pass through the duct at the inner end of the valve thumb-screw R- into the spadeabove the enlarged end of the piston N until the guum is partially broken, and as pressures uporraypposite faces of the enlar ed end of the plston eq li e the induction-Va ve will be seated. 3

From the foregoing it will be observed that the operation of the valve P is automatic in 12 5 shutting off the supply of fuel the instant the engine is stopped, which shutting off of the supply of fuel is caused by the breaking of the vacuum in the secondary cylinder,- and e that as the engine is started a vacuum is created and the valve is automatically opened.

Letters Patent, is-

Having thus fully described my invention, whatjhclaim as new, and desire to secure'by a cylin 1. An explosive-gas engine having a piston der with a combustion-chamber an working therein, an exhaust-chamber, a fuelduct, an air and fuel combining chamber, having free and unobstructed communication with said combustion-chamber, an air-cornallowing air under pressure from said com- 'pressio'n-com artment together with fuel, to

simultaneous y enter the combining-chamher, and means for actuating said mechanism exposed on one side to the atmosphere and on the other side to the vacuum-space, as set forth.

2. An explosive-gas engine having a cylinder with a combustion-chamber and a piston working therein, an exhaust-chamber, a fuel duct, an air and fuel combining chamber, having free and unobstructed communications with said combustion-chamber, an aircompression compartment, and a vacuumspace intermediate the combustion-chamber and the'compression-compartment, a valved passage-way leading from the vacuum-space to said exhaust-chamber, valve mechanism for allowing air under pressure from said com-- pression-com artment together with fuel, to simultaneous y enter the combining-chamber, I a pneumatic cylinder positioned in a passageway communicating with said vacuum-space, a piston in said pneumatic cylinder and adapted to actuate said valve mechanism. and means forgpghlating themlpply of air .to saidprreunratic cy 'nder, as set fdrthr 3. An-explosive-gas engine having a cylinder with a combustion-chamber and a piston Working therein, an exhaust-chamber, with ports leading thereto from'th'elower portimn of the combustion-chamber, a fuel-duct, an air and fuel combining chamber, havin free and unobstructed communication wit the combustion-chamber, an air-compression said exh .der with a combustion-chamber and a piston working therein, an exhaust-chamber, a fuelduct, an air and fuel combining chamber, having free and unobstructed communication with said combustion chamber, an airco npression' compartment, a vacuum-space being formed intermediate the combustionchamber and the compression-compartment,

a pneumatic cylinder with a duct leadin therefrom and communicating with said vacuum-space, and valve mechanism for regulating the supply of air from the compresslum-compartment and fuel to the combiningchamber, simultaneously with the closing of the exhaust to the atmosphere, as set forth. 5. In an explosive-gas engine, a combustion-chamber, an aircompression compartment, a piston Working in said chamber and having an enlarged end to compress air into said compartment, a vacuum-space being formed intermediate the circumference of said piston and the Wall of the compressioncompartment, a combining-chamber, having free communication with the combustionchamber, an exhaust-chamber with ports leading to the combustion-chamber and to the atmosphere, an induction-valve controlling the feeding of air and fuel to the combining-chamber, a stem upon which said valve is'mounted, a neumatic cylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinder and ex osed on one side to the atmosphere and on t e other side to the vacuum-space, said piston having a contracted portion for controlling the port leading from the exhaust-chamber, as set forth.

6. In an explosive-gas engine, a combustion-chamber, an air-compression compartment and a vacuum-space, a piston Working in said chamber, and having an enlargedend adapted to compress air Within said compartment, an exhaust-chamber of measured capacity communicating with the combustionchamber and with the atmosphere, a combining-chamber communicating with the combustion-chamber, a duct leading from said air-compression compartment 'to convey air dramthedattertbthfibhbifing amber a pneumatic cylinder and pistdii mhg therein, a duct leading from said cylinder to said yacuunFspace, an induction-valve and stem secured thereto, which is also fastened to said piston in said cylinder, and valve mechanism in connection with said piston in the cylinder, and means for actuating said mechanism exposed on the one side to the atmosphere and on the other side to the vacu- -um-space, and means for allowing a given uantlty of air to enter the pneumatic cylin der to break the vacufium, as set forth.

-7.' In an explosive-gas engine, a combustion-chamber, an air-compression compart- .ment and a vacuum-space, a piston Working in said chamber, and having an enlarged end adapted to compress air within said compartinent, an exhaustchamb'er of measured capacity communicating with the lower portion of the chamber and with the atmosphere, an induction-valve for regulating the supply of air and fuel to the combustion-chamber, a pneumatic cylinder, a piston having an enlarged head working in said cylinder and provided with a contracted portion regulating the exit. passage-way between said exhaustchamber and the atmosphere, a valve regu lating the ingress of air to said cylinder, said induction-valve'actuated by said piston in said cylinder, the latter having communica tion with said vacuum-space, as set forth.

8. An explosive-gas engine comprising a combustion-chamber, a working piston therein, an annular chamber for receiving the residue of the products of combustion, an induction-valve, a pneumatic cylinder, a piston working therein, having a contracted portion regulating the eXit passage-way from said annular chamber to the atmosphere, a valveregulated air-inlet duct leadingto the pneumatic cylinder, a stem on which the piston of said cylinder is mounted, an inductionvalve mounted on said stem, and opening into a combining-chamber, a shell in which an enlarged portion of the working piston travels forming a vacuum-space, a port leading from said space to the pneumatic cylinder, an air-compression chamber, a crankshaft mounted therein, and a pitman between said working piston and shaft, and a duct formed in the casing of the engineand leading from the air-compression chamber to said induction-valve, whereby air under pressure may be fed to the combining-chamber as the induction-valve is unseated, as set forth.

9. An explosive-gas engine comprising a combustion chamber, a working piston mounted therein, a shell extending below the combustion-chamber, an enlarged portion of said piston working therein, an air-compression compartment, an annular chamber for receiving the residue of the products of combustion a pneumatic cylinder, a piston havin an enlarged headed portion Working in said cylinder and a contracted portion regulating communication between the exhaust-chamber and the atmosphere, a stem fitted to said pistonin said c linder, and an inductionwalve secured to sai stem and regulating the flow of air and fuel to the combining-chamber, as set forth,

10. An explosive-gas engine having a com bustion-chamber, a receiving-chamber communicating therewith into which the residue of theproducts of combustion is forced, a working piston mounted in the combustlonchamber, a shell below the combustiontion-valve and stem 011 which the same is mounted, a pneumatic cylinder, a passageway leading therefrom to said space, a ortion of the piston in said cylinder contro mg communication between the receiving-chamber and the atmosphere, a guide-piece through which said stem passes, and a s ring for normally holding the induction-v ve closed, as set forth. v

11. In an explosive-gas engine, a combustion-chamber and an air-compression cornpartment, a piston in said chamber, a rece1ving-chamber communicating with the combustion-chamber and into which the residue of the products of combustion is forced, an 1nduction-valve, a stem on which the same is mounted, a shell extending below the cornbustion-chamber, an enlar ed portion of sald piston working within sai shell, a vacuumspace formed between the enlarged portion of said piston and shell, a pneumatic cylinder, a duct leading therefrom to said vacuumspace, a piston mounted in "said cylinder and connected to the induction-valve, and a valveregulated air-inlet duct leading to said cylinder, a duct leading from the air-compression chamber to the combining-chamber, a valveregulated fuel-aperture o ening to the seat of the induction-valve, and a spring-actuated valve regulating the passage-way between said air-compression chamber and said receiving-chamber, as set forth.

In testimonywhereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

I EDWARD G. SHORTT. Witnesses H. WARD PEARSON, GEO. HARVEY TRIOKETT. 

